Roots: Histories of Vlad Tepes of Wallachia. Naturally, Bram Stoker's
Dracula is referred to (and dismissed), while dialogue drops in references to
The Brides of Dracula and The Curse of Dracula. Peri compares her
stitching to that of Frankenstein. The Doctor quotes from Edward FitzGerald's
translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam ("Awake! For Morning in the
Bowl of Night Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight"). He calls his
horse 'my beauty' - possibly a reference to Peter Davison's role in the
modernised Black Beauty.

Continuity: Peri admits her sewing isn't up to much (although it
improves over the weeks they are at the castle). At the beginning of the
adventure she is wearing high heels. She is well-versed in modern vampire lore,
but is unaware of the Vlad the Impaler aspect to the Dracula story.

Erimem writes to Peri in English, helped by the lessons she has given her.

The Doctor initially refuses the use of a sword, but when faced with no
other options seems to acquit himself well with it. He seems to be familiar
with the layout of Poienari [perhaps from his research?] He is also an expert
marksman with a bow. At the end of the story he pays one of Radu's men to steal
his master's journal and rips some pages from it - presumably he keeps it and
is certain Radu won't simply start a new one.

Links: The Doctor tells Peri of having met vampires before "with
fangs and bats and everything" (State of Decay) Erimem's English lessons
continue apace (The Roof of the World)

Location: Wallachia and borderlands, June 17 to July 2, 1462

The Bottom Line: Historical stories in the modern Who era are a
double-edged sword. Lyons has chosen the dramatic over the didactic by using
one of history's most infamous butchers and asking whether the propaganda
fitted the man, and if his brutal methods of war and population control were
justified. Son of the Dragon becomes a character piece then, and with such
speculation the documentary aspect of the historical leaves the room - perhaps
that's the way it should be. There's a deft touch in making Erimem Dracula's
sympathiser, although it comes at the cost of Peri being stupider and whinier
than normal and Davison reverting to "Oh dear..." mode until late in the piece.